King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh joined survivors, emergency responders, and bereaved families at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 20th anniversary of the 7 July London bombings.
The ceremony honoured the victims of the deadliest terrorist attack on British soil, in which four coordinated explosions on three Tube trains and a bus claimed 52 lives and injured hundreds more. Among those in attendance were London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and other dignitaries who gathered to remember the lives lost and the courage of those who responded.
At 8.50am, the moment the first bomb had detonated in 2005, Starmer and Khan laid wreaths at the Hyde Park 7 July memorial, joined by senior officials including Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley and British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi.
During the service, survivors and families reflected on how the city has changed in the two decades since the attacks. Four candles, representing the bombing sites; Russell Square, Aldgate, Edgware Road, and Tavistock Square were carried through the cathedral by emergency service representatives, followed by a moment of silence at the altar.
Taking to Instagram, Mayor Khan wrote: “Today, we mark 20 years since the horrendous 7 July terror attacks shook our city... We remember the 52 lives lost and the more than 700 injured by these cowardly acts... To those who seek to spread hatred—you will never win. London stands united. We choose hope over fear, unity over division, and continue building a safer city for all.”
As the UK marked 20 years since the London bombings, global leaders called for united action against terrorism. Speaking at the Brics Summit in Brazil, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described terrorism as the greatest threat to humanity, citing the recent Pahalgam attack as a direct assault on India’s identity and dignity.
Modi urged Brics nations to stand together, stressing that those who support terrorism directly or indirectly must be held accountable. “Condemning terrorism must be a principle, not a convenience,” he said, adding that lasting peace is essential for humanity’s progress and that BRICS has a key role in securing it.
“We must tackle anti-Muslim hate”
Following the 7/7 London bombings, many British Asians especially British Muslims have faced increased racism and Islamophobia as the suicide bombers were linked to a terrorist group that claimed to have acted in the name of Islam. All four of the suicide bombers were under the age of 30 and three were British-born sons of Pakistani parents from areas of Leeds. While most extremists are misguided and misuse religion to justify violence, the vast majority of Muslims strongly condemned the attacks and made it clear that such actions go against the true teachings of Islam. Many worked to dissociate their faith from terrorism, emphasising that these individuals did not represent their beliefs or their community.
9/11 and 7/7 changed the way the West looked specially at Muslim youth. Imam Qari Asim told The Guardian, “The emotional and social toll of 7/7 on Muslim communities was profound and is felt by many to this day.” Asim, who then lived in Leeds, recalled how the community felt a collective sense of grief as the country mourned for the 52 deaths and hundreds injured by the bombings. But there was also an additional and silent layer of suffering within the Muslim community - "guilt and the need to justify their sense of belonging", he reportedly added.
Similarly, Fahad Khan, a youth worker, who was 18 at the time of the atrocity, told the BBC recently, that the local people were traumatised as the news forever changed people's perception of the Muslim community, especially young Muslim men. He added: "It changed that narrative to someone who looked like me - and that's a lot to deal with.”
Jabeer Butt OBE, Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation, speaking to Asian Voice about his experience on the day said, “I had arrived at Euston Station around 10am, unaware of what had happened. My bus was diverted, and as I walked towards my office, I saw injured people emerging from King’s Cross. That’s when I realised something terrible had occurred. As the day unfolded, it became clear that innocent people had lost their lives in a horrifying act of violence. Learning that the attackers were a small group of young men was deeply shocking. Sadly, a damaging narrative soon followed, one that wrongly blamed all Muslims for the actions of a few. This response, rooted in racism and anti-Muslim hate, has only created more division without addressing the real causes of violence.”
He added, “There have been some positives, many mosques and other religious institutions have actively worked to dispel myths about their faith and communities, which is important to recognise. However, it’s also clear that many Muslims continue to feel they don’t belong. Hearing stories of people having their burqas forcibly removed is shocking. And when political leaders say they wouldn’t speak to someone wearing a burqa, it raises serious questions. Why single out a form of dress to justify disengagement? It reinforces the idea that Muslim identity is somehow unacceptable.”
On the role of faith-based leadership and inter-community dialogue in healing the wounds left by 7/7, Jabeer Butt said, “It’s vitally important. Many faith leaders have stepped up—not only contributing to everyday life but also engaging in public and political spaces. We've seen mosques open their doors, take part in local celebrations, and join national moments, such as the Queen’s passing. This visible participation is a positive step. However, leadership also means having the courage to speak out. During the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, some faith leaders questioned its efficacy—not out of hesitancy, but a desire to see clear evidence that it worked across all communities. They had every right to raise those concerns, and doing so helped build trust.”
